Shock absorber



Oct. 18, 1932. E. l.. BEECHER 1,883,488

sHocK ABsoRBER Filed Jan. 22, 195o s Smets-sheet 1 Oct. 18,1932. t E, L, BEECHER 1,883,488

SHOCK ABSORBER Filed Jan. 22, 1930 C5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Oct. 18, 1932 PATENT OFFICE EUGENE L. BECHER, OF EAST CLEVELAND, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE GABRIEL COMPANY, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, A CORPORATION F OHIO SHOCK ABSORBER Application led January 22, 1830. Serial No. 422,519.

rilhis invention relates to shock absorbers and more particularly to shock absorbers of the type wherein a vane or movable partition is connected with a shaftl whereby, on rota- 3 tion of the shaft in opposite directions, it'is L' moved in a liquid-containing working chamber toward and from opposed partitions or opposite portions of a partition, with means for by-passing the liquid from one side of l@ the movable vane. or partition to the other. The general object of the invention is to improve and simplify the construction and operation of shock absorbers of this type.- Further and more limited objects of the invenis tion are to provide, for such shock absorbers, a novel 'manner'of mounting the movable partition or vane upon the shaft, thereby to prevent leakage around the hub thereof and between such hub portion and the fixed par- ,an tition; to provide means whereby resistance to the movement of the said vane toward the fixed partition may be gradually and automatically increased as the vane approaches said partition and particularly as to the an movement of the vane due to impact; to provide a simple and novel packing arrangement for the stuiing box surrounding the shaft; to provide, in such shock absorbers, means for automatically compensating for variationsv in viscosity inthe liquid in the working chamber, due to variations in temperature; also to controlthe passage of liquid from one side to the other of the vane or movable partition in such manner as to enable the check valve to operate slowly and noiselessly thereby to reduce the wear thereon and eliminate noise incident to .seating thereof. and the transmission of such noise,

to the vehicle chassis.

vention will appear hereinafter and will be .l

realized in and through the construction and arrangement of parts shown in the drawings, wherein Fig. l represents a front elevation of a shock absorber constructed in accordance with my invention showing the sam applied to one of the side members of an aut mobile; Figs. 2 and 3 are details in section correspending respectivelyto the lines 2-2 and 3-3 of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 a detail in section corresponding to the line 4 4 of Fig. 2; Fig. 5 a fragmentary sectional detail taken on the line 5 5 of Fig. l, the retaining cap for the packing spring lclamp being partially removed rom such clamp; Fig. 6 a detail in section of a portion of the cover block for the working chamber; Fig. 7 a front elevation, Figs. 8 and 9 side elevations, and Figs. 10 and l1 opposite end elevations of-the iixed partition; and Fig. 12 a detail in section corresponding to the line 12-12 of Fig. 2.

Describing the variousparts by reference characters, l denotes one of the side members of an automobile on which my shock absorber is mounted. Forv convenience of description, the forwardly facing portion of the shock absorber as shown in Fig. E). will be referred to as the ffront and the portion secured to the side member as the rear of such shock absorber, but' Without any intention thereby of limiting the position of the shock absorber in use. The shock absorber comprises an outer casing A having a rear base flange A by means of which it is secured to the side member l by means of bolts 2. The casing A has formed therewith a front cover A2 having a central cylindrical neck A3. The rear end of the casing is open and has a cylindrical inner Wall A4 extending from a point adjacent to the cover toward the rear end thereof, where an annular shoulder A5 is provided from which a short cylindrical chamber A6 extends, the rear end of the chamber being provided with an internal thread A7.

Mounted in the rear of the casing A is the bottom closure B, said closure being provided With a cylindrical side flange B' which fits snugly within the chamber wall A8 and which is threaded into the bottom of said chamber, the said closure being provided with a central boss B2 having a cylindrical bearing B3 therein for the rear or inner end 3 of the shaft 3. I

Before inserting the bottom closure 1n place, a cover block is inserted into the upper or front portion of the casing. This b lock, indicated generally at C, is provided with a c lindricl side Wall C fitting closelywithin t e inner cylindrical wall A* of the caslng.

, Y Y f At its upper end, the side wall C' is rovided with -an angular peripheral groove extending therearound, thev said groove being filledy with softl lead or other suitable com ressible packing material C. The cover lock is provided also with a neck C" which lits closely about the shaft 3 and extends into and fits snugl within -the neck As of the casing C. The ront face ofthe cover block is recessed, as shown at 4, to provide, with the cover portion A2 of the casing A, a .reserve chamber forv liquid to be supplied to the 'working chamber 5, which working chamber is pr'ovided between the cover block C and the end closure B. For the purpose of replenishing the chamber4 from time to time, the casin cover is provided with a plug 6 through whic liquid may be introduced from time to time. This plu is arran ed inv alinement with-the tool-receiving end of a valve'stem 7, the Eglve ,stem and the valve connected thereto ln fixe partition (to'be described hereinafter). Extending across one side of the working chamber is a -ixed segmental partition, indicated generally at D. This artition consists of a metal block having a c amber 8 extending thereinto from its rear` face. The partition is interposed betweenthe shaft 3 and the in'ner wall of the casing- C and is provided with a cylindrical inner surface D' extending the full depth thereofjand facing the shaft 3, also with a cylindrical outerJ surface D2 adapted to en age-the inner wall of the casin A, both o said surfaces being concentric with the axis of rotation of said shaft. The

partition is anchored in place in any suitable manner, as by means o a tubular dowel 9 having one end anchored in a suitable cylindrical seat 10 in the cover block C and its opposite end mounted in a chambered seat 11 in said partition. The tubular dowel `9 serves as a means for relieving the working chamber of air that mayvaccumulate therein, but without the egress of vliquid therefrom, this resultbein accomplished by mountin in the front or elivery end ofthe said dowe aplug 12 having a central bore 12l communieating with the bore of the dowel and provided at its rear end with a capillary passage 13 communicating with the bore 12 and with the upper portion of the chamber 4. The openin 13 will permit the escape of air from the wor 'ng chamber into the u r portion of the compensating chamber, w 11e plreventingrthe passa of li uid therethrou he cover lock in turn is anc ored Ain place within the casing A by means of integral dowels As pressed from the front or cover portion of the casing and progecting into' dowel seats C formed in the cover block--see Fig. 5.

The shaft 3 is provided, within the working chamber 5, with a seat block 3" on which the vane is mounted for limited sliding moveront of the mounted in the cover block and in the `contained therein, under quick or sudd ment. This movement is accommodated by formin the seat with parallel sides 14 and cylindrlcal ends 15, the end surfaces 15 being concentric with the axis of the shaft; andthe portion of said seat which extends from the shaft toward the partition D is shorter than the ortion which extends toward the blade of t e vane E.

and having paral el sides 16 adapted to slid-.

e the sides 14 of the seat and havably enga ingle 11n rical ends 17 concentric with the cy 'n rical surfaces 15 on saidseat. At its outer end, the blade-portion of the'vane is provided with a pluralitygof inwardly extending pockets 18. The provision of these' pockets sets up a whirling action in the liquid en movements of the vane, and thus ltends to maintain a liquid seal between the c lindrical ends of thefingers or rojections z of said vane and the interior o the casing under such conditions, thereb avoiding the necessity for `providing specia y close tolerances between the casing and the vane fin ers or extensions.

Due to the whirling actlon of the liquid contained in the pockets and the consequent tendency to maintain a liquid seal between the cylindrical ends of the lin ers or rojections E of the vane and the cy 'ndrica inner wall of the casing, there is a tendency for the vane to be moved bodily toward the partiv tion D. Furthermore, as the vane moves toward either partition branch the liquid is directed away from the bearing surface D gyh the inclination vof the sides of the vane.

is assists in preventing leakage between the hub E of the vane and the concave surface D of the partition.

Furthermore, in order to compensate for variations in viscosity of the liquid in the working chamber,'due to variations in temperature, 'I construct the vane and the partition of a metal having a higher coefficient of expansion `than the casing, so that, in operating vat low temperatures, the clearance be-I tween the ends of the fingers or projections Eand the inner wall ofthe casing will be lincreased over thei'clearance at normal tempurpose are iron or steel for the casing A 'and zinc alloy for the vane and partition D.

` It will be noted that the partition D is pro,

vided in one branch Dthereof witlr'a passage`V 2Q communicating at one end with the chamber 8 and at its other end with a chamber 20B containing a check valve 21, the parts being so arranged that, when the check valve is opened, a free passage is provided from the chamber 8 to the working chamber 4 on one side of the partition through the passage and the chamber 20a and awide passage 22 in the outer surface D2 of the partition. It shouldbe noted further that the wide passage 22 extends from the working chamber 4 across the mouth 23 of the chamber in which the ball check valve is mounted and across a slotted port 24 which is controlled by the cylindrical valve body 7b operated by the stem 7, the valve being adjustably mounted in the branch D3 by means of a threaded projection 7 on thevalve engaging the thread in a chamber D5 in said branch. A spring 25 surroundsthe valve stem and bears at one branch D4 of the partition is provided with a port 27 communicating at one end with the chamber 8 and extending from said chamber into the body of said branch where it communicates with the passage 28 which extends forwardly through 'the front wall of said branch (see Figs. 2, l and 8). Extending from thel ort 28 is a short port 29 leading to a cham er 30 having a ball check valve 31 therein, said chamber communicating with a wide passage 32 formed in the outer cylindrical surface DE of the branch D", said pas; sage communicating at one end ,with the working chamber 4 and having its other end i extending beyond the chamber 30.

The forward end of the port 28 communicates with ya. short forwardly extending passage 33 in the cover block C, which passaoe in turn communicates with a laterally extending passage 3a in said block, and the passage 34 communicates in turn with the rearwardly extending port 35, the rear end ofwhich port communicates with a V-shaped groove 36 formed in the rear face of said cover plate,the said groove being substantially .concentric with the axis of rotation of the shaft 3 and gradually diminishing in depth and width toward but terminating short of the branch D4 of the partition-see Fig; 6, which shows a sectional view through the portion of the cover block containing said groove, the View being taken along the central or deepest part of the said groove.

For the purpose of replenishing the working chamber 5, the cover block C is provided in the lower portion thereof with a port 37 communicating at its front end with the reserve chamber and o ening into a valve chamber 38 provided with a ball check 39, which 1s retained in place by a cage 40. When a slight suction 1s produced in the chamber 4: by the vane E, liquid will be drawn through the passa e 37 and chamber 38 into the workin cham er, thereb to replenish any loss of li uid in such cham er.

eference has been made hereinbefore to the manner of packing the shaft 3, to prevent leakage ofoperating liquid therearound. I accomplish this by beveling outwardly the ends of `the necks @t and A3 so that they jointly form a substantially continuous frusto-conical seat converging toward the yshaft in which seat is placed a frusto-conical packing ring 4].. This packing ring is maintained under compression by a spring 42 which is interposed between an annular flange Ff of a clamping member F and a washer 43 on the outer surface of the packing ring. The clamping member is detachably secured in place upon the neck A3 in the following manner Said neck is provided with a groove CG extending therearound, the front wall of said groove being forwardly and outwardly beveled, as shown at C?. Ilfhe clamping member F is provided with a pair of integrally opposed spring arms F2 each having an inwardly projecting finger F3 at its rear end whereby, when the spring 43 shall have been compressed to the desired extent by moving the clamping device rearwardly, the iin ers will snap into place within the groove (J6. However, owing to the outward andforward bevel of the wall C1 of said groove and the pressure exerted upon the clamping device by` the spring 43, the clamping device will not rcmain in place. In order'to retain it in place,

d emplov therewitha retainer comprising a cap havincr a cover G provided with an opening whereby it may be applied to the shaft 3 anda skirt G .which receives the spring arms F2 therewithin and is ofsuch diameter as to hold the fingers Fs'in the position shown in' Ei 2-with the fin ers seated in the groove When it is' esired to remove the packing ring or to have access io the joint, it is necessary only to move the cap G, G forwardly along the shaft 3 until the skirt of the cap shall have disengaged the spring clips whereupon the fingers F3 will be forced out of the groove A6, exposing the joint andthe packing for'inspection.

It will be. noted that the casing A, to-

getherv with the cover A2 and the neck A3,

is made from asingle piece of material, preferably by a stamping operation, the

cover A2 having the dowel projections A? pressed therefrom. This manner of making the casing, when taken with the cooperating construction of the various parts which enter rinto the construction of my shock absorber enable me to produce a shock absorber of 13@ marked eiciency and at a low cost of production.

In operation, the parts are so arranged that, on impact (when the body and axle of the vehicle approach each other) the vane E will move toward the branch D* of the partition D,closing the check valve 3l. As the` vanermoves` in this direction, the comparatively free by-passing of the liquid to the opposite side of the vane will be afforded y through the groove 36, the conduit constiapproaches vmore nearly the branch D4 of the partition, itwill increasingly cover the groove 36, thereby kprogressively decreasing itscross-sectional area and to a corresponding extent throttling the flow of liquid to the opposite side of the vane. It will be noted that the narrow end of the groove terminates short of the partition branch D. In this position, there will be no b -passing of. liquid to the opposite side of t e vane, and the impact movement of the body and axle toward each other can thereb be checked before the body-strikes the ax e.

When the vane moves toward the o posite branch Ds of the partition, the liqui in the working chamber will be forced through the slotted passage 22 and through the narrow slotted port 24, the arca of which is controlled by the valve body 7 Liquid assing through the port 24 will be by-passezf) to the opposlte side ofthe vane through the chamber 8 and the passages 27 and 29, chamber 30, and slotted assage 32. Reference has been made hereinbefore to the automatic compensation for variations in viscosity of the liquid by the metals employed in the vaneand'partition and in the casing. The use of metal having a relatively high coefficient of expans on for the partition causes an automatic variation, by temperature changes, of the width of the passage 24 thus compensating `for variations in the viscosity of the liquid due to temperature 'conditions Furthermore, the contractionA and expansion of the vane and partition will not result in` any binding or distortion of the shaft, this action being-prevented by the manner of mounting the vane on the shaft.

It will be noted thatboth ball checks 21 and 31 are located in chambers extending substantially at right angles from their respective slotted passages 22 and 32 located in the outer cylindrical surface D2 and that these passages extend beyond the said cham- 1. bers. Because of this arrangement, the liquid is forced along the said passages in a direction apprpximately at right angles to the travel of the ball checks, therebyv causing a Aslower seating movement ofeach of these checks, with a corresponding reduction in` noise and wear.

It has been pointed out hereinbefore that the part of the seat 3b'for the vane whichextends toward the chambered end o f said vane is somewhat longer than the opposite end. This secures a longer forward or driving radius for the operating portion of the vane than is provided for the opposite partition-facing portion thereof.

"ns A Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. A shock absorber comprising in comrear face and the said closure, the said coverI block having a central neck formed therewith and constituting a bearing for the shaft and extending into the central opening in the casing cover, a movable vane-or partition mounted `on said shaft in the working chamber, packing material for the end of the coverblock neck, and means secured to the cover of said casing for holding the said packing material under` com ression.

'2. A Shock `absor r comprising in combination a cylindrical casing, a shaft journaled in said casing, a artition inter osed between said shaft and t e inner Wall o said casing,the said partition having a cylindrical surface presented toward said shaft and concentric with the axis of rotation of said shaft, and a vane mounted von said shaft so as to have a sliding movement thereon toward and vfrom the said partition, the said vane having a hub-provided with a cylindrical surface, the cylindrical surface of such hub being concentric with the axis of rotation of said shaft and adaptedto engage the corresponding cylindrical surface of the said partition.

3. A shock absorber comprisin in combination acylindrical casing, a sha journaled in said casing, a partition interposed between said shaft and the inner wall of said casing, the said partition having a cylindrical surface presented toward said shaft and concentricA with the axis of rotation of said shaft, and a vane mounted on said shaft so as to have a sliding movement thereon toward and from the said partition, the said vane having a hub provided with a cylindrical surface, the

cylindrical surface of such hub being concentric'with the axis of rotation of said shaft and adapted to engage the corresponding cylindrical surface of the said partition, the said vane and the vsaid partition being made ,of a material having a coecient of expanend of which port is adapted to deliver liquid passing therethrough to one of the last mentioned chambers, the said partition having a peripheral passage communicating at one end with the other of said last mentioned chambers and at its opposite end with the other end of said port, the said partition also hav.-l

`end of the said port andthe chamber from which liquid is sup lied to said port.V

18. A shock absor er comprising in combination a cylindrical casing having a working chamber therein, a. shaft journaled in said casing, a partition interposed between said shaft and theinner wallof said casin in said chamber, a vane mounted on said s raft and movable toward and from said partition and dividing the Working chamber into two chambers formed between the opposite sides of the vane and the said partition, the said partition having a b -pass conduit therethrough, the said con uit comprising a passage formed in the peripheral portion of said partition and communicating at one end with one of said chambers, whereb on movement of the vane toward the receiving end of said passage liquid will be forced by said vane toward such passage end and away from the shaft on wliich'the vane is mounted.

c 19. A shock absorber com rising in combination a cylindrical casing aving a working chamber therein and a shaft mounted in said casing and having a vane in said working chamber, alpartition in said chamber toward and from which the said vane is moved by said shaft, a cover block within the forward portion of said casing and constituting a cover for the working chamber, the said partition having a port therethrough for the passage of liquid through said partition, a valve adapted to close'the said port more or less and threaded in said partition, the said vvalve having a projection and a valve stem projecting through the front of said partition and through'the cover block, the said cover block having a chamber facing and forming a continuation of the bore in said partition and through which chamber the valve stem extends, packing material surrounding the valve stem in the cover block chamber, and a spring interposed between said packing and the projection on the valve.

20. A shock absorber comprising in combination a cylindrical casing having a working chamber therein and a shaft mounted in said casing* and having a vane in said working chamber, a partition in said chamber toward and from which the said vane is moved by said shaft, a cover block within the forward portion o'f said casing and constituting a cover for the workingchamber, the said partition having a port therethrough for the passage of liquid through said partition, a valve adapted to close the said port more or less and threaded in said partition,the said valve having aprojection, and a valve stem projecting through the front of said partitionand through the cover, block, the said coverv block having a chamber facing and forming a continuation of the bore in said partition, the said chamber having a tapered scat facing the said bore 'and surrounding a bore extending from said chamberthrough the cover blpck and through which chamber and into which bore the said valve stem extends, packing material surrounding the valve stem in the said seat, and a spring interposed between said packing and the projection on the valve. f

21. A shock absorber com rising in combination a cylindrical casing aving a working` chamber therein and a shaft mounted in said casing and having a vane in said working chamber, .a partition in said chamber toward and from which the said vane s moved by said shaft, a block 4within the f'orward portion of said casing and constituting a cover for the working chamber, the said partition having a port therethrough for the passage of liquid through said partition, a valve adapted to close the'said ort more or less and mounted in said partition,the said valve having .a projection threadedl into a portion of said partition, a valve stem p rojecting through the front of said partition and through the cover block, and a spring surrounding the valve stem and pressing -at one end against the cover block and at its other end against the said projection.

22. A shock absorber comprising a cylindii-ical pressed metal casing having an integral cover, a shaft ournaled in said casing, a closure for the rear end of said casing, a

"cover block interposed between said cover and the said closure and forming a working chamber with the latter, a vane in said workingl chamber, a partition 'in said working chamber, means for anchoring the partition to the cover block, and means for anchoring the cover block to the cover.

23. A shock absorber comprising a cylindrical pressed metal casing having an 1ntegral cover, a shaftjournaled in said casing, a closure for the rear end of said casing, a cover block interposed between said cover and the said closure and forming a working chamber with the latter, a vane in said working chamber, a partition in said working chamber, means foranchoring the partition to the cover block, and means for anchoring the cover block to the casing cover, and said means comprising integral dowel projections ing a Working chamber with the latter, a vane in said working cliainberya partition in s aid working chainher, and means for anchoring the cover block member to the casing cover member, the said means comprising dowel projections on one of said members entering seats provided therefor in the other member.

25. A shock absorber comprising in combination a cylindrical casing, a sliaft Journaled 1n saidcasing, a partition interposed between ,said shaft and the inner wall of said casing,`

the said partition having a cylindrical surface presented toward said shaft and concentric with the axis of rotation of vsaid shaft,

a 4seat on said shaft, the said .seat having af projection normally extending toward said partition anda projection extending inthe opposite direction and of greater length than the former projection, the lsaid seat havin parallel sides, and a vane having a slotte opening of greater length than said seat and havingiparallel sides adapted to slidably engage the sides of said seat, the said vane havi,sss,4ea

said shaft and t ie inner wall of said casing,

the said partition having a cylindrical surface presented toward said shaft and concentric with the axis of rotation of said shaft, a vane mounted on lsaid shaft so as to havea sliding movement thereon toward and from the said artition, the said vane having a h'ub provide with a cylindrical surface, the cylindrical surface of such hub eing concentric with the axis of rotation-og said shaft and adapted to enga the corresponding cylindrical surface o the said partition, the said partition havin a slotted port therethrough forming part o a by-pass for liquid from one side of the vane to the other, and a valve for varying the effective de th of said slot.

'In testimony whereo I hereunto ailix my signature.

EUGENE L. BEECHER.

ing a hub in the form of a segment of a cylinder, the cylindrical surface of said hub bein concentric with the axis of rotation' of sai shaft and ada ted to engage the corresponding` cylindrica surface of the said partition.

26. A shock absorber comprising in comy bination a cylindrical casing, a'shaft journaled in sai casing, a partition interposed between said shaft and the inner wall o said casing, thesaid partition having a cylindri- A cal surface presented towardv said shaft and concentric with the axis of rotation of said sha-ft, a seat onsaid shaft, the said seat having a projection normally extending toward said partition and a projection-'extending in 'the opposite direction and of greater length than the former projection, thesaid seat having parallel sides, and 'a vane having a slotted opening of greater length than said seat and having parallel sides adapted to slidably engage the sides of said seat, the said vane having a hub in the form of a segment of a cylinder, the cylindrical surface of said hub be-v l ing concentric with the axis of 'rotation of 'said shaft and adapted to engage the corresponding cylindrical surface of the said par- 27. A shock absorber comprising'in coinl i between said shaft and t eA inner wall o casing, the sailepartition havin .eff

surface presen bearing toward said s aft, and af.

vane mounted on said shaft so as to have a lll ism4

lmi

Oct. 18, 1932. F, P. BEEDLE ET AL CULTIVATOR Filed July 9, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet l 

